Evolution of approaches to the problem of the influence of ancient philosophy on christianity

Introduction. The article analyzes various views expressed in domestic and foreign criticism on the problem of the boundaries and the degree of influence of ancient thought on the Christian tradition. The article analyzes the question not only about the distortion of the ancient philosophy of Christianity, but also about the legitimacy of the influence of the "Hellenic" Christianity itself on the cultures of other peoples. Special attention is paid to the analysis of similarities and differences in approaches to this issue in philosophical thought in the West and in Russian philosophy.
Materials and Methods. The main material for this article is the monograph of G. V. Florovsky's "Christianity and Civilization: Selected works on theology and Philosophy", as well as an extensive article by P. B. Mikhailov – "The concept of Hellenization of Christianity in the history of theology". In addition, the research material is the works of other domestic and foreign authors analyzing the problem under consideration. The article uses the methods of comparative analysis, generalization and historical and philosophical analysis.
Results. The analysis shows that the concept that arose in Protestantism, the substitution of evangelical preaching in the late Christian thought with alien ideas of ancient philosophy, has undergone an evolution. Modern criticism emphasizes that the accusation itself is based on the German philosophy of history, which does not accept the phenomenon of the Gospel as a Tradition, i.e., Traditions. In this way, it divides the Gospel and Tradition and closes the Gospel in a specific historical moment. According to the scholars, it is necessary to distinguish between the declaration of the substitution of the gospel by philosophy as a theoretical assumption, and historical reality, as a process of realization of the Good News that took place in the second century and in subsequent time. At present, the idea of the identity of the internal content of the confessional faith and the diversity of external, cultural forms of its expression is becoming relevant.
Discussion and Conclusions. The author of the study managed to conduct a comparative and systematic analysis of the approaches that determine the strength and scope of the influence of ancient philosophy on Christian theology, in the works of both domestic and foreign thinkers. As a result, the author managed to carry out a comprehensive analysis of various approaches in assessing the degree of influence of ancient philosophy on Christian theology, as well as to trace the evolution of these ideas.

1. Armstrong A.H. The origins of Christian theology. Introduction to Ancient Philosophy. St. Petersburg, Publishing house of Oleg Abyshko, 2003. 256 p. (In Russ.)

2. Ahutin A. Litigation about being. Moscow, Russkoe fenomenologicheskoe obshchestvo Publ., 1996. 304 p. (In Russ.)

3. Bratuhin A.YU. The birth of the style of Christian literature (Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian): doctoral dissertation in philology. St. Petersburg, 2016. 370 p. (In Russ.)

4. Gaginskij A.M. Postmetaphysical theology in the context of the history of ontology. Istoriya filosofii, 2017, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 53-67. (In Russ.)

5. Garnak A. History of dogmas. Rannee hristianstvo: [v 2 t.]. T.2. Moscow, AST Publ.; Kharkov, Folio Publ., 2001. (In Russ.)

6. Garnak A., YUliher A., Renan E. i dr. Early Christianity: [in 2 volumes]. Vol. 1. Moscow, AST Publ.; Kharkov, Folio Publ., 2001. 654 p. (In Russ.)

7. Harnack A. von. Pravoslavnaya Bogoslovskaya Enciklopediya. T. 10. Moscow, 2010. Pp. 431-434. Available at: http://www.pravenc.ru/text/161705.html (accessed: 28.04.2018). (In Russ.)

8. Grigor'ev K.G. The essence of Christianity: Lectures by prof. A. Harnack. Vera i razum, 1903, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 25-46, 148-172, 241-270, 279-300, 381-404, 431-450. (In Russ.)

9. Zajceva I.V. Ancient heritage in the ideas and activities of Clement of Alexandria: dissertation of the candidate of historical sciences. Belgorod, 2011. 203 p. (In Russ.)

10. Zen'kovskij V., prot. Apologetics. Paris, UMCA-PRESS Publ., 1957. 260 p. (In Russ.)

11. Kalachinskij P. Teaching of the Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church in relation to the philosophy of Plato. Vera i razum. T.1, ch. 1. Kharkov, 1900. Pp. 21-42. (In Russ.)

12. Kalachinskij P.A. Can St. Fathers and Teachers of the Church of the first centuries of Christianity in the so-called Platonism (borrowing ideas from the philosopher Plato and his followers). Kharkov, 1900. (In Russ.)

13. Kiprian (Kern), arhim. Anthropology of St. Gregory Palamas. Moscow, Palomnik Publ., 1996. (In Russ.)

14. Kulyukin S.L. "The essence of Christianity" prof. Adolf Harnack. Petrograd, 1902. (In Russ.)

15. Laut E. Post-patristic theology, or beyond the neo-patristic synthesis. Available at: https://bogoslov.ru/article/1982765 (accessed: 02.12.2020). (In Russ.)

16. Lebedev A.P. The essence of Christianity in the image of the church. historian A. Harnack. Bogoslovskij vestnik, 1901, no. 10, pp. 305-330; no. 11, pp. 429-445; no. 12, pp. 650-671. (In Russ.)

17. Linickij P. Title: The Teachings of Plato about Deity. Moscow, Tipografiya S.T. Eremeeva Publ., 1876. (In Russ.)

18. Lovyagin E.I. About the attitude of classical writers to the biblical according to the views of Christian apologists. St. Petersburg, 1872. (In Russ.)

19. Mihajlov P.B. The concept of the Hellenization of Christianity in the history of theology. Vestnik PSTGU, 2017, vol. 71, pp. 50-68. (In Russ.)

20. Moreskini Klaudio. History of Patristic Philosophy. Moscow, 2011. 864 p. (In Russ.)

21. Pelikan YA. Christian tradition. The history of the development of the doctrine. The emergence of the catholic tradition [100-600]. Vol. 1. Moscow, Kul'turnyj centr «Duhovnaya biblioteka» Publ., 2007. P. 37. (In Russ.)

22. Prihod'ko M.A. Apologetics of Justin the Philosopher and Tatian of the Assyrian as an Experience of Self-Consciousness of Christian Culture: Dissertation of the Candidate of Philosophy. St. Petersburg, 2014. (In Russ.)

23. Pylaev M.A. Christian receptions of ancient culture in the context of the theological problem of "Hellenization of Christianity". Religiovedenie, 2002, no. 1, pp. 3-14. (In Russ.)

24. Savrej V.YA. The Alexandrian School in the History of Philosophical and Theological Thought. Moscow, KomKniga Publ., 2006. 1008 p. (In Russ.)

25. Sidorov A.I. The beginning of the Alexandrian school: Panten, Clement of Alexandria. Uchenye zapiski RGPU. Vyp. 3. Moscow, 1998. Pp. 56-138. (In Russ.)

26. Sidorov A.I. Patristic heritage and church antiquities. Volume 1: Holy Fathers in the history of the Orthodox Church (general works). Moscow, Sibirskaya Blagozvonnica Publ., 2011. 432 p. (In Russ.)

27. Skvorcov K.I. Philosophy of the Fathers and Teachers of the Church. (The period of the apologists). Kiev, Izd-vo im. svt. L'va papy Rimskogo Publ., 2003. 472 p. (In Russ.)

28. Tareev M.M. The doctrine of St. Justin Martyr in his relation to pagan philosophy. Vera i razum. T. II. CH. II. Kharkov, 1893. Pp. 112-236. (In Russ.)

29. Trubeckoj S.N. The doctrine of the Logos in its history. Philosophical and historical research. T.1. Moscow, Tipografiya G. Lissnera, A. Geshelya Publ., 1900. 465 p. (In Russ.)

30. Florovskij G.V. Christianity and Civilization: Selected Works on Theology and Philosophy. St. Petersburg, 2005. 862 p. (In Russ.)

31. Holl Styuart Dzh. Teaching and Life of the Early Church. Novosibirsk, Posoh Publ., 2000. 324 p. (In Russ.)

32. Horuzhij S.S. The idea of neo-patristic synthesis as an incomplete message. Voprosy filosofii, 2014, no. 7, pp. 154-160. (In Russ.)

33. Horuzhij S.S. The concept of neo-patristic synthesis at a new stage. Available at: http://synergia-isa.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/hor_neopatr_new_etap2013.pdf (accessed: 26.11.2020). (In Russ.)

34. SHaff F. History of the Christian Church. T. II: Ante-Nicene Christianity (A.D. 100-325). St. Petersburg, «Bibliya dlya vsekh» Publ., 2010. (In Russ.)

35. SHmeman A., prot. The historical path of Orthodoxy. Paris, 1989. 389 p. (In Russ.)

36. SHufrin A.M. Gnosis, Epiphany, Deification: Clement of Alexandria and his sources. Moscow, 2013. (In Russ.)

37. Bray G. Scripture and Tradition in Reformation Thought. Evangelical Review of Theology, 1995, vol. 19.2, pp. 157-166.

38. Buda D. Some aspects of Adolf von Harnack’s criticism on Orthodox tradition. HTS Teologiese Studies, 2013, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 1-6. Available at: https://cyberleninka.org/article/n/433851/viewer (accessed: 06.04.2021).

39. Korak C. Created or uncreated: The influence of philosophy and cultural normatives on the development of opposing interpretations of Christ as Logos leading up to Nicaea. Evanston, Illinois. 2010. 78 p. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/678348/Created_or_uncreated_The_influence_of_philosophy_and_cultural_normatives_on_the_development_of_opposing_interpretations_of_Christ_as_Logos_leading_up_to_Nicaea (accessed: 20.01.2021).

40. Louth A. Modern Orthodox Thinkers. From the Philokalia to the present. London, SPCK, 2015. 382 p.

41. Meredith A. Christian Philosophy in the Early Church. London, T&T Clark, 2012. 173 p.

42. Mong A. Purification of Memory. A Study оf Modern Orthodox Theologians from a Catholic Perspective. Cambridge, James Clarke & Co, 2015. 212 p.